Batting .500 on first round of very biased MLB playoff predictions

Right before the MLB playoffs began I wrote down my predictions for the playoffs and posted them here.

I picked the White Sox to win it all, which might seem the ultimate heart instead of head choice, but I 80% believed that the Sox could be the 2021 World Series Champs.

Of course, this was not meant to be.  The Astros beat the White Sox in 4.  It was a series of blowouts with Houston winning 3 of the blowouts and the Sox winning only game 3.  The White Sox had their chances leading 3 0f the 4 games but the Astros led all 4 games and their hitting was relentless.

In my other ALDS prediction I correctly picked the Red Sox to beat the  Tampa Bay Rays in their AL East rivalry. I also correctly picked the NL Wild Card (and 2020 reigning World Series champ) LA Dodgers over their NL west rival over the San Francisco Giants. 

In the pick I felt less certain about I did pick the Brewers to beat the Braves in the other NLDS and I was quite wrong about that.  (Fun fact: Both the Brewers and the Braves once called Milwaukee County Stadium their home. ) It's just as well as the Dodgers Braves NLCS match-up is a rematch of my the first baseball my game my Dad ever attended.  This was back when the Dodgers played in Brooklyn and Jackie Robinson played for them and the Braves were playing in Milwaukee.

The Red Sox lost game 1 in the ALCS and the Dodgers Braves NLCS gets underway today,  Now that the White Sox are out of the mix, I am not as invested in the results but I would not be surprised if any of these teams were to win the World Series this year.

  

Album Spotlight: Peter Paul & Mommy

 

Peter Paul and Mommy 1969 Warner Brothers

I used to love to make mix tapes from my album c.d. and cassette collections. Often I would record an album spotlight where I would feature 4 or 5 songs from the same album and mix it in with other songs on a 45 minute cassette. I found I can basically do the same thing in a much shorter time on Spotify. I am also less limited by space so instead of choosing 45 minutes of songs I chose 20 songs.

The first album I decided to do this with is Peter Paul and Mary's award winning Children's album Peter Paul and Mommy. Unfortunately, I didn't discover this gem of an album in 1969 when it first came out. This is too bad, as I was 5 in 1969 and at the perfect age for many of the wonderful songs on this album I did eventually discover it when my own children were at the perfect age to listen to it.

Click here to listen to the entire playlist.

My favorite 5 songs on the album (in alphabetical order) are ...

Boa Constrictor

Christmas Dinner

Going to the Zoo

It's Raining

The Marvelous Toy

An additional 5 songs featured on the playlist are ...

A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall - Bob Dylan

Grandma's Feather Bed - John Denver

The entire album has a singing around the campfire feeling. I guess it's not surprising that many of the songs I chose to accompany songs from the album were songs that I sang around the campfire over the years. Grandma's Feather Bed is a song that I learned over the campfire years before I ever heard Denver's rendition

Wedding Song (There is Love) - Noel Paul Stookey

On my album spotlight playlists, I like to feature songs by the artist or solo songs from the group that are not on the album. Noel Paul Stookey is the Paul of Peter, Paul and Mary and The Wedding Song was performed by my sisters at my and my wife's wedding, so it was a slam-dunk choice for the playlist.

Snuggle Puppy - Eric Stoltz

I also like to include songs from the album's same genre on my playlist. Snuggle Puppy is a song from the book c.d. combo Philadelphia Chickens featuring the lyrics and artwork of Children's author Sandra Boynton. Like Peter Paul and Mommy this song (and the entire album) was a favorite of my kid's growing up. I could totally see doing an album spotlight in the future on this amazing project.

Carolina in My Mind - James Taylor

I think groups like Peter, Paul and Mary paved the way for the folk-pop music of the 70's. This is why I added a little JT to the mix.

I hope you enjoyed this look back at one of my favorite albums. I hope to do another one here real soon.                                                                  

My Very Biased Playoff Predictions

 As both the NL Wild Card and AL Wild Card games are in the books time for my hopes and dreams for the rest of the playoffs.  Predictions are too string of a word, but I will take credit for any of these picks that turn out right as I have the courage of my convictions to post them here.

National League 

Dodgers vs Giants

I pick the Dodgers,

Brewers vs, Braves.

Ever since I lived 2 hours from Atlanta back when the Braves won their World Series in the last century I have been a pretty big Braves supported from afar.  That's not true exactly.  I have loved the Braves ever since the days of hammering Hank Aaron who remains my favorite ball player who never wore a Chicago uniform. That being said I think the Brewers will beat the Braves in a close series.

Dodgers vs. Brewers

I am a little torn here and will explain my reasoning more when I get to my World Series pick but suffice it to say I'll pick the Dodgers.

American League

Rays vs. Red Sox. 

 The Rays were very impressive in a very impressive division.  I think the Red Sox will find a way to skate past Tampa.

White Sox vs. Astros.  

In a rematch of the 2005 World Series the former NL Astros play my beloved White Sox.  I hope with all the hope I can muster that Houston will have a problem and the pale hose will prevail.

White Sox vs. Red Sox.  

Let me boldly assert that the Sox will definitely win this match-up.  The question is what color will these victorious Sox be adorned with,  Again my hope is that the White Sox will prevail.  

2021 World Series Pick

White Sox vs. Dodgers

If the White Sox do make it to the World Series my preference would be they play the Brewers.  I live less than 2 hours from each ball park and would try to get tickets without breaking my bank account. However I love the symmetryof the White Sox beating the Astro's and the Red Sox as they did in 2005 and then avenging their last World Series defeat in 1959 by beating the reigning champion Dodgers.  

It could happen and in October anything can happen, so why not that?!!!? Go Go White Sox!

Randy Stonehill 50 years in ministry kickstarter project is fully funded.

Last Month Ray Ware, Randy Stonehill's longtime manager and bestfriend, launched a kickstarter project to produce an album to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the release of Born Twice, Stonehill's first album.  The Album will have various artists performing Stonehill songs from the last 1/2 century.  The link to the project (which is now fully funded and closed for contributions) is found here.

The album will be  entitled "There's  A Rainbow Somewhere" which are lyrics from his song King of Hearts.  I was excited to hear about the project and it is the first kickstarter project that I have ever been a backer of.  To celebrate funding I am sharing the song King of Hearts here.  

79 Years Ago in baseball history

Today is September 9th 2021. Seventy-nine years ago today, Eddie Robinson made his major league debut for the Cleveland Indians. Eddie, is currently the oldest living former magor league. In addition to the Indians Robinson also played the majority of his career for the White Sox, Yankees, Philadelphia and Kansas City Athletics and Washington Senators. He also saw limited service with the Detroit Tigers and Baltiomor Orioles in his final year of baseball in 1957. Robinson turned 100 on December 15th of last year

50 left from Twenties

The Online Version of the Baseball Almanac has a very nice feature that shows you the current 500 oldest living people who played major league baseball.  Since November 30, 2018 the title of oldest living player has gone to a former Chicago White Sox.  Tom Jordan held the distinction until his death on 8/26/19, 10 days before his 100th birthday.  Val Helm took over the title upon Jordan's death and held hit 17 days past his 99th birthday on Nember 4th 1919.  Eddie Robinson who I featured in my A to Z challenge on White Sox Homerun hitters has held the record since Helm's death. Robinson  turned 100 on 12/15/2020 and hopes to hold the record for a while.  The nperson in 2nd who turned 100 earlier this year has a fitting name  for the distinction if he outlive Robinson, George Elder.

There are currently 50  former players alive who were born in the 1920's.  As the time passes I hope to give updates on the 50 players on the chart below with further information on the last 50 MLB players who were alive in the 1920's.

Rank	Player	Games Played/Teams With	DOB	Age
Oldest	Eddie Robinson	1315 games – 7 Teams:( Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators, Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia and Kansas City Athletics, New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles.)	12/15/1920	100
2nd Oldest	George Elder	41 games St. Louis Browns	3/10/1921	100
3rd Oldest	Eddie Basinski	203 Games 2 Teams ( Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates)	11/4/1922	98
4th Oldest	Tim Thompson	187 Games 3 Teams (Brooklyn Dodgers, Kansas City Athletics, and Detroit Tigers)	03/01/1924	97
5th Oldest	Art Schallock	58 Games (New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles)	4/25/1924	97
6th Oldest	Bill Greason	3 games St. Louis Cardinals	9/3/1924	96
7th Oldest	Larry Miggins	43 games St. Louis Cardinals	8/20/1925	95
8th Oldest	Paul Hindrichs	4 games Boston Red Sox	8/31/1925	95
9th Oldest	Bobby Shantz	578 games – 6 teams ( Philadelphia and Kansas City Athletics, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Colt 45’s, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and Philadelphia Phillies)	9/26/1925	95
10th Oldest	Chris Haughey	1 game Brooklyn Dodgers	10/3/1925	95
11th Oldest	Frank Saucier	18 games: St. Louis Browns	5/28/1926	95
12th Oldest	Bobby Morgan	671 games: 4 teams (Brooklyn Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, and Chicago Cubs )	6/29/1926	95
13th Oldest	Johnny Groth	1,248 games: 5 teams ( Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, and Kansas City Athletics )	7/23/1926	95
14th Oldest	Ed Mickelson	18 games: 3 teams  (St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Browns, and Chicago Cubs )	9/9/1926	94
15th Oldest	Carl Erskine	360 games: Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers	12/13/1926	94
16th Oldest	Jim Willis	27 games: Chicago Cubs	3/20/1927	94
17th Oldest	Charlie Maxwell	1133 games 4 (Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox)	4/8/1927	94
18th Oldest	Billy Gardner	1,034 games:  6 Teams (New York Giants, Baltimore Orioles, Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, and Boston Red Sox)	7/19/1927	94
19th Oldest	Cloyd Boyer	113 games: 2 teams ( St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Athletics )	9/1/1927	93
20th Oldest	Dave Hillman	197 games: 4 teams ( Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Mets )	9/14/1927	93
21st Oldest	Bill Harington	58 games: Philadelphia/Kansas City Athletics	10/3/1927	93
22nd Oldest	Bob Kelly	123 games: 3 teams (Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians )	10/4/1927	93
23rd Oldest	Tommy Brown	494 games:  3 teams (Brooklyn Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago Cubs )	12/6/1927	93
24th Oldest	Bob Oldis	135 games: 3 teams (Washington Senators, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Philadelphia Phillies)	1/5/1928	93
25th Oldest	Felipe Montemayor	64 games: Pittsburgh Pirates	2/7/1928	93
26th Oldest	Roy Face	853 games:3 teams ( Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers, and Montreal Expos)	2/20/1928	93
27th Oldest	Billy Hunter	630 games: 5 teams (St. Louis Browns, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, and Cleveland Indians)	6/4/1928	93
28th Oldest	John Glenn	32 games: St. Louis Cardinals  29	6/101928	93
29th Oldest	Vito Valentinetti	108 games: 5 teams ( Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, and Washington Senators)	9/16/1928	92
30th Oldest	Fred Marolewski	1 game: St. Louis Cardinals	10/6/1928	92
31st Oldest	Gail Henley	14 games: Pittsburgh Pirates	10/15/1928	92
32nd Oldest	Mickey Micelotta	17 games Philadelphia Phillies	10/20/1928	92
33rd Oldest	Bob Ross	20 games 2 teams Washington Senators and Philadelphia Phillies	11/2/1928	92
34th Oldest	Bill Wilson	224 games 2 teams (Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia & Kansas City Athletics)	11/6/1928	92
35th Oldest	Moe Savransky	16 Games Cincinatti Reds	1/13/1929	92
36th Oldest	Gale Wade	19 games: Chicago Cubs  37	1/20/1929	92
37th Oldest	Bobby Kline	77 games Washington Senators	1/27/1929	92
38th Oldest	Al Worthington	602 games 5 teams (New York & San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds and Minnesota Twins).	2/5/1929	92
39th Oldest	Mel Held	4 games Baltimore Orioles	4/12/1929	92
40th Oldest	Ed Winceniak	32 games Chicago Cubs	4/16/1929	92
41st Oldest	Curt Simmons	609 games:  4 teams (Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and California Angels)	5/19/1929	92
42nd Oldest	Hank Foiles	608 games 7 teams (Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Athletics, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Angels)	6/10/1929	92
43rd Oldest	Frank Thomas	1756 games 7 teams (Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Braves, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros)	6/11/1929	92
44th Oldest	Don Ferrarese	184 games 5 teams ( Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals)	6/19/1929	92
45th Oldest	Hector Lopez	1450 games 2 teams (Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees)	7/8/1929	92
46th Oldest	Jerry Snyder	266 games Washington Senators	7/21/1929	92
47th Oldest	Joe Pignatano	307 games 4 teams (Brooklyn & L.A. Dodgers, Kansas City Atletics, San Francisco Giants and New York Mets)	8/4/1929	92
48th Oldest	Ike Delock	329 games 2 teams (Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles)	11/11/1929	91
49th Oldest	Carl Linhart	3 games Detroit Tigers	12/14/1929	91
50th Oldest	Ray Herbert	408 games 4 teams (Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Athletics, Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies)	12/15/1929	91